Liberty Launches Pilot Program with the GEST Rideshare Service
LIBERTY, Mo. – Liberty City Council has approved a one-month pilot program with GEST Missouri Holdings, LLC for a door-to-door on-demand transportation service, and will celebrate the new partnership with a ribbon cutting and inaugural ride.
Service in Liberty will start Wednesday, October 1, and the City will host a ribbon cutting event on Tuesday, October 7 at 11 a.m. outside of Liberty City Hall, 101 E. Kansas St. in Liberty, MO.
“We are excited to continue offering affordable transportation in Liberty with a new partner,” said Mayor Greg Canuteson. “The primary focus of the GEST service is getting Liberty residents to and from work, and helping seniors and others meet their basic needs like doctors’ appointments and the grocery store.”
GEST transportation will be available Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 9 p.m. and Saturday – Sunday, 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. Rides will be $3, per person, per one-way trip, and the service area includes the following:
- Within the city limits of Liberty
- Between other participating cities (currently Gladstone, with others in the works)
- To the nearest bus stop
- To any hospital or healthcare facility in Liberty, Gladstone, North Kansas City, Riverside, Parkville or the Clay / Platte County portion of Kansas City, MO.
The goal of the service is to continue cost-effective transportation for Liberty residents. Liberty ended its contract with IRIS, the app-based rideshare service offered by the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA), effective September 30. Rising costs created challenges for long-term sustainability after offering the IRIS service at a subsidized rate for users for just over two years.
Book a ride by calling the GEST service line: 816.919.4378. You will be able to coordinate a return trip on the same call, if needed. All trips must be paid in advance by credit card.
Liberty’s contract with GEST will automatically renew for two consecutive months following the initial term, then will automatically renew for nine months. Data will be gathered during the pilot period to determine demand, use of the service, etc. and will be used to evaluate the need for an ongoing service agreement.